| DIETRICH
BONHOEFFER (April 9th) is one of the most tragic, and yet heroic and
inspiring, martyrs of the 20th century. Born inGermany in 1906, Bonhoeffer
became a Lutheran pastor, serving two small congregations in London from
1933-1935. From the first days of the Nazi accession to power in 1933 he was
involved in protests against the regime. From London he became the leading
spokesman for the Confessing Church, the center of Protestant resistance to the
Nazis (at the time, the "official" Lutheran Church in Germany had accepted
Hitler's rule). Bonhoeffer went to Germany in 1935 to organize and head a new
seminary for the Confessing Church. During this time, he rose to international
prominence as a theologian through his writings that warned Christians against a
"soft" understanding of discipleship.
He also became increasingly
involved in the political struggle. During a visit to England in 1939 he
considered taking refuge in the USA, but he returned to Germany to continue his
resistance. On April 5, 1943 he was arrested and imprisoned in Berlin. After an
attempt to assassinate Hitler failed on April 9, 1944 he was charged with
involvement in the plot and moved to a concentration camp. On Sunday, April 8,
1945 two prison guards came for him. He then said to another prisoner, "This is
me end. For me, the beginning of life." He was hanged me next day, April 9,
intentionally the exact anniversary of the attempt on Hitler, and less than a
month before the Nazi surrender on May 8, 1945. |
